1/2 MOA complete gun package for $1K

I recently completed a maximum effective range shooting school where interested new "long range" shooters were on a budget. I picked up a new Savage LRH ($685) in 6.5 X 284 for the class to use as comparison to some of my custom guns. During the equipment and reloading days, the students mounted a Leupold VXIII 6.5 X 20 ($700) on a 20 MOA base with rings, bubble ($150) and Harris bipod ($110). They used the morning to reload Lapua brass with 140 Berger VLD's. The afternoon was on the range properly breaking in the barrel and establishing load development potential thru a Crony. After 50 rounds of break in and close estimate for final load development, the brass was reloaded for ten rounds for another day at the range. Here are the results.

Three rounds were fired in two minutes on a cold bore off the bipod followed by one round after two minutes and another round after another two minutes. The temperature was 38 degrees so overheating was not an issue. Correction was made and the gun was left to cool for 20 minutes followed by the same string on the center of the 1" lines three inches above the bull. I usually shoot 5 to 10 shot strings to establish potential MOA precision. I don't believe three rounds are enough to establish the precision potential for a gun/ammo combination.

I am posting these results for those interested in "long range" shooting restricted to a budget or just starting out. This is my fourth "box" Savage and all guns are capable of multiple shot sub MOA groups with equal results tested to 1000 yards. The Savage LRH is comfortable to shoot, light weight for a LR gun, has a great trigger and best of all priced for a reasonable budget. However, as with any gun custom or stock, you must properly care for and break in the gun compounded with match reloading tuned to your gun.

Good write up and great shooter you have there! On groups for precision, I think it depends on your perspective. If you're more into competition and paper shooting then 5 - 10 shot groups is the name of the game. But for general LRH shooting, the cold bore shot is the one that counts, followed maybe by a 2nd or 3rd. My routine would be a cold bore double tap at various ranges and conditions. Shooting 5 - 10 groups although fun, will eat up barrel life.

Good write up and great shooter you have there! On groups for precision, I think it depends on your perspective. If you're more into competition and paper shooting then 5 - 10 shot groups is the name of the game. But for general LRH shooting, the cold bore shot is the one that counts, followed maybe by a 2nd or 3rd. My routine would be a cold bore double tap at various ranges and conditions. Shooting 5 - 10 groups although fun, will eat up barrel life.

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I agree 100% also with chamberings normally associated with long range hunting your getting into cartridges that can eat a throat in short order if steps to keep the barrel cool and clean are not taken.

I agree 100% also with chamberings normally associated with long range hunting your getting into cartridges that can eat a throat in short order if steps to keep the barrel cool and clean are not taken.

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Joe and Montanarifleman,

I absolutely agree with your comments on LR hunting practice and multi shot groups vs. competition shooting. “Practice” with multiple shots may not be in the best interest to your barrel especially if you have a great shooting gun you want around for as long as possible. The next series of rounds this gun will see is a three shot confirmation zero with weather data and a three shot maximum effective range group to compare should hit vs. did hit data to “zero” the ballistics solution for that maximum effective range. After this, it’s one shot setups under potential hunting scenarios at various ranges up to the established maximum effective range. I coach new shooters the multi-shot groups for LR guns only during the final portion of load development primarily to confirm gun/ammo/shooter confidence, estimate MOA potential used in establishing a maximum effective range (completely another topic not discussed much among new shooters) and establishing the load ES. Seeing good results early and having that confidence in the work you have accomplished during load development goes along way when its time to practice those one shot scenarios.

I'm confuse by the thread title. "...complete gun package for $1K". The numbers you provided total $1645. Error in title or text or?

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ELR,I can change the title to read for $1K+, or $1645, or <$2k or for the budget conscious. Purpose of this post was to convey that a reasonably precise LR gun package can be assembled for the budget restricted. For many of the new shooters interested in LR shooting, budget is a deal breaker if they can not afford the shooting system and all the other components required to start practicing in this type of venue.

I just picked up a savage predator in 260 rem and was blown away with its accuracy! It can shoot .75 in groups with cheap remington ammo. My custom load is h4350 42 gr at 2650fps and it resulted in .423 in 8 shot group. It's on the slow side velocity wise but I'm sticking with it. Simply put its an extremely accurate rifle for @ 800 bucks. With optics and rings bases etc.. I'm in it for @ 1800. That price sure beats 4k or more. Great write up.

I think I understood the title. It didn't say 1000 yard rifle for 1k. By a 111 for 849 at Cabelas, throw on a cheap 3x9 (150) and you can shoot .5 MOA at 100 out to 300 all day. Zero the cheap scope at 200 and you are set to kill big game easily to 300 yards with a 6.5-284.

OR

Buy a model 116 for 749 at Cabelas and put on a cheap LR scope for 250 and shoot well out to 600ish.

Great write-up! Thanks for sharing. Would you mind also sharing what their recommended break-in procedure was? Just for kicks...

Thanks!

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There are many good articles on breaking in a new barrel. This gun started with a new clean barrel, one round clean, one round clean…took 9 rounds before going to three rounds clean X 3 followed by 5 rounds clean X 3. All of this is combined with load development, pressure checks and scope cant check at the same time. This is quite a time consuming process involving accomplishing several objectives at the same time, all starting with a detailed plan. I have had very good success with this method on factory guns.

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